George Zimmerman Suing NBC Over Edited 911 Tape

George Zimmerman’s attorney on Thursday confirmed his client is considering a defamation lawsuit against NBC over the misleading editing of a recording that he said made his client “appear he is a racist.”

In a statement Thursday, Zimmerman’s lawyer Mark O’Mara said NBC’s editing version of his client’s call to Sanford Police was “outrageous.”

“Due in large part to NBC’s actions, George has had to live in hiding, in fear for his life,” he wrote.

The audio, which aired March 27 on the “Today” show and in a report by an NBC-owned affiliate days earlier, made it sound as if Zimmerman volunteered to police that 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was black in the call he made before the Feb. 26 shooting.

In the NBC-edited audio, Zimmerman says of Trayvon, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black.”

But those two sentences are not back-to-back in the original audio. In between, a police dispatcher asked Zimmerman about Trayvon’s race.

Sorry George, but we didn’t need those tapes to make us think you were a racist.

NBC since apologized, and three employees were let go, according to reports. The network declined to comment on Thursday.

Jon Kaney, an experienced media lawyer and general counsel to Florida’s First Amendment Foundation, said there are several elements of defamation that need to be addressed in Zimmerman’s claim.

First of which is:

The most basic: Is the edited audio defamatory? That’s subject to interpretation, Kaney said.

“[Zimmerman] begins with an argument that’s based on an implication. NBC did not say he is a racist,”

Secondly:

Zimmerman went into hiding soon after the shooting, weeks before the “Today” report. In the interrim, the case sparked international outrage, focused largely on Zimmerman.

Zimmerman’s high profile raises another key issue: Whether he was a public figure in the eyes of the law at the time of the alleged defamation.

If so, Kaney said, he’d have to show NBC “knew the statement was falsely made, or acted with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity.”

Tompkins says that although networks settle many defamation cases out of court, Zimmerman’s is not likely to be one of them.

Keep feeding you and feeding you and feeding you. This poor woman murked her hubby after suffering decades of abuse during their 54 year marriage, and the control he had over her was so strong she continued to cook meals for him even after killing him!

A New Jersey woman charged with the fatal shooting of her husband continued cooking him meals for two days after his death in a tragic case tied to her dementia, her family said.

Fredericka Rosa, 77, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the death of her husband, Valpa Rosa Sr., the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.

Authorities allege she used a .357 Magnum revolver to shoot her 79-year-old husband in their Pemberton Township home on July 19, according to the South Jersey Times. Investigators reportedly found gunshot wounds to Valpa Rosa’s head and neck.

Their children told NBC 10 Philadelphia they know why it happened: Fredericka Rosa suffered abuse from her husband during their 54-year marriage.

“He drove her insane,” daughter Rosetta Rosa told NBC 10. “He drove her to the point where she picked up the gun and shot him.”

“I understand why my mama did it,” Valpa Rosa Jr. added.

The children also said she suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

For 48 hours after the elder Rosa died, his wife continued making him food and then called other family members to ask why he hadn’t returned home for dinner, the Burlington County Times reported Wednesday.

The retired postal worker’s corpse remained in the home until the children called police on July 21, authorities said.

Rosa remains free on $150,000 bail and is awaiting an arraignment date.

What a sad story, we pray she gets some help. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are both horrible illnesses, we know her kids must be really going through it right now.

In Utah you can have multiple wives…but if your syndicated TV show has anything to do with being Gay, it will get banned!

The Utah station, KSL-TV, said it won’t broadcast New Normal when it premieres this fall. New Normal is based on a single mother’s life as she becomes a surrogate for a gay couple and ya know…that’s bad.

“After viewing the pilot episode of The New Normal, we have made the decision to keep it off our fall schedule,” Jeff Simpson, CEO of KSL parent company Bonneville International, told Deseret News. “For our brand, this program simply feels inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time.” Crude dialogue, explicit content and offensive characterizations were the main reasons why KSL-TV would not bring New Normal to air when it launches Sept. 11.

Ellen Barkin isn’t taking this isht lying down either and she went to Twitter to let us all know how pissed off she is:

Conservative group One Million Moms also had their own opinion of the new show:

NBC is using public airwaves to continue to subject families to the decay of morals and values, and the sanctity of marriage in attempting to redefine marriage,” the group said at the time. “These things are harmful to our society, and this program is damaging to our culture.”

According to Theybf: “GOLD! Serena Williams just grabbed her first Singles Competition gold medal in her career. And this is before she competes for another Gold alongside her sister Venus in an upcoming Doubles Competition.

Tennis rock star Serena Williams beat–and by beat, we mean WHIPPED–Russian Maria Sharapova in every set. Serena actually didn’t lose a match at all during these Olympics, despite being seeded #4.

By the way, the YBF chick is the 1st woman to win all four Grand Slams and a gold medal in both singles AND doubles.

After winning her fifth Wimbledon championship title a month ago, the uber happy star told NBC several times,“Oh my God I just can’t believe it!”

Bibles in nightstands are a familiar amenity for hotel guests, but travelers seeking to read their favorite verse at one establishment will be in for a big surprise.

Instead of the standard Gideon bible, the owner of Damson Dene opted for the steamy novel known for its explicit sexual content because he thought it was the hospitable thing to do.

“Because everybody is reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ we thought it would be a hospitable thing to do, to have this available for our guests, especially if some of them were a little bit shy about buying it because of its reputation,” hotel owner Jonathan Denby told NBC News.

The hotel said it discretely stashes the bestseller in the bedside table for guests to discover –the place one reserved for the bible.

“This series is a showcase for some of the best musical talent in the business and that’s a fitting description for Jennifer Hudson,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment. “Her character will represent someone who reached their Broadway dream but also paid a price for it.”

I love stories like this-God is Real! There are good people in this world.

Dying Man’s Family Grants Wish Of Leaving Large Tip For Waitress

A Kentucky man’s family fulfilled his dying wish when they left a $500 tip to their waitress at a Lexington restaurant a few days after he died, the NBC station WLEX in Lexington. And that wish has turned into something bigger.

Before he died July 7, 30-year-old Aaron Collins told his family he wanted to eat pizza and leave the server a large tip, but didn’t have the money, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
His family raised the money through a website that Collins’ brother Seth started.

Days later, they went to have lunch at a pizza parlor and handed the waitress the $500 when they were done, the paper reported.

The event was captured on video and is posted on the family’s website.

The waitress can be heard saying, “Are you kidding me?”

According to the website, more than $10,000 has been donated since Thursday.

Collins’ family said they plan on raising more money and giving out big tips weekly to other servers as long as they can.

THAT is how you go out in a meaningful way that will always be remembered.

If you wish to be apart of this inspiring “Pay It Forward” movement you can make donations HERE

This story is crazy, but we’re glad to see the kids coming together to support this woman’s family.

Local high school students raised $10,000 for the family of a convenience store clerk known as “Grandma” to many in the Garland community.

76 year old Nancy Harris died Friday night, nearly a week after she was robbed and set on fire at the Fina gas station where she worked in Garland.

On Saturday, students from South Garland High School returned to the place of the attack to hold a car wash and raise money for her family.

“I was just devastated,” said Dylan Stooksberry, president of the school’s student council. “It’s kind of outlandish that someone would go out of there way to do this. To have that happen to someone who you know, to a face that you know, to a friend it’s devastating.”

“It hurts deep down and honestly if someone is going to go out of there way to do something bad like that, I am going to go out of my way to do something nice,” said Stooksberry.

The Fina gas station is located just a block from their school. Many students like DJ Valderrama personally knew Harris.

“I came in the gas station and she showed me so much kindness by giving me a free drink,” Valderrama said. “Whenever somebody shows you that kind of kindness if affects your life really.”

Despite the tragedy that happened at the Fina gas station, many students told NBC 5 that the incident has brought the community closer together.

Many hoped this fundraiser will help honor Harris who meant so much to many.

“I know Ms. Harris is looking down on us right now, I know she is happy,” said Valderrama.

Matthew Johnson is charged with Attempted Capital Murder in connection with this case. Those charges could be upgraded because Ms. Harris has now died.

Has Sheree found another job? Is Kim going to be tardy for the sitcom?

Nope! NeNe Leakes is taking over TV. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star and recurring “Glee” actress is adding another acting credit to her ever-expanding resume with Ryan Murphy’s new NBC comedy “The New Normal.”

The New Normal” follows the Beverly Hills couple as they try to start a family. The two turn to a surrogate, Goldie (Georgia King), with Ellen Barkin co-starring as Goldie’s Archie Bunker-esque grandma. So where does NeNe come in?

“I’m Rocky, one of the gay guy’s assistants,” NeNe told The Huffington Post on the red carpet for NBC’s upfront presentations in New York on Monday. “I take it very personal, honey, if you talk about my gays, honey. Only I can talk about them and I’m fabulous.

“She’s very different from Roz Washington on ‘Glee’; she’s always in workout outfits and sneakers. Rocky wears high heels every day. This is very fitting for me because in my real life, you don’t mess with my gays, honey,” NeNe said, snapping. “I don’t play that.”

Nene is on the come up! Will you be tuning into NeNe’s new show this fall?

BET's "The Game." Premiere night was off the chain! Pics of Tia Mowry, Brandy, and the rest of the cast! creator/directors Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. New cast member Brandy with her cast members--Bibs and Pooch Hall. Gabrielle Dennis (Janay) To the right the show's costume designer, Pinkney Turner, Larenz Tate giving support: brandy […]